In a post-Covid world, actors are rarely being asked to come in person for first-round auditions. The new normal seems to be a world of self-taping where an actor records themselves reading the lines at home and sends it in to the casting team. Whether you\u2019re <\/span>renting an apartment in Los Angeles, CA<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>renting a home in Chicago<\/span><\/a>, or looking to <\/span>buy a home in Atlanta<\/span><\/a>, having a self-tape studio can make the experience of recording your auditions even smoother.<\/span><\/p>\n ApartmentGuide reached out to an assortment of experts in the entertainment business to gather tips about what gear you need to create the perfect self-tape studio. Read on to learn more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before you set off on building your dream self-tape studio, it\u2019s important to know what not to do. \u201cA bad setup is dark or harshly lit, has an echo or intrusive noise, a distracting background, or \u2014 worse \u2014 some combination of all three. But the good news? Fixing these issues is easier (and more affordable) than you think,\u201d shares <\/span>Jamie Carroll Acting Coach<\/span><\/a>, a private acting coach based in New York City.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n After knowing what not to do, it\u2019s important to find the space you\u2019re going to be using in your home. \u201cAs self-tapes are now the standard for auditioning, setting up a good home self-tape studio space is something that all actors and aspiring actors need,\u201d shares the team at <\/span>WeAudition<\/span><\/a>, an online service for hiring on-demand self-tape readers. \u201cThe key is, it doesn\u2019t have to be fancy or expensive to do the job professionally. For the best results, pick a room or corner of a room that has a clear, clutter-free wall or background.\u00a0 If there is a window directly opposite this wall, that will give you good natural light.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Another aspect of finding space for your self-tape studio is to make sure you have control over the environment to focus and film at all times during the day. <\/span>\u201cWhen setting up a self-tape space, the more control you have over your environment and equipment, the more you can focus on what matters most: your performance,\u201d says <\/span>BK Actors Self-Tape<\/span><\/a>, a self-tape and coaching studio in Brooklyn offering a space to record auditions with high-quality equipment and guidance. \u201cA quiet space, like a garage or a room with blackout blinds, ensures consistency regardless of time or lighting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have a room or corner to dedicate to being always ready for self-tapes, consider a space that can transform. \u201cYou don\u2019t need a dedicated studio \u2014 just a smart setup,\u201d says Jamie Carroll Acting Coach. \u201cA well-planned self-tape space can be as simple as rearranging a few pieces of furniture. Your living room, bedroom, or even a quiet corner could be the space that lands you your next role.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Laura Mac of the <\/span>Laura Mac Method<\/span><\/a>, an online acting school headquartered in Seattle, WA, seconds this idea. <\/span>\u201cIf space is limited, choose portable or collapsible equipment to transform your living space back into a functional home after taping. A roll-up backdrop and clip-on lighting are great for tight spaces.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The next step is to decide what you want your backdrop to be. \u201cThe best self-tape set-ups need only a solid backdrop, lighting, and a tripod!\u201d says <\/span>1st Team Actors Studio<\/span><\/a>, an acting studio in Northeast Ohio. \u201cCommon colors for the backdrop include grey or blue, but actors should choose a solid, neutral color that helps them stand out against it. Take into account your skin tone and hair color when selecting your backdrop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Laura Mac agrees, \u201cKeep your backdrop neutral, professional, and wrinkle-free,\u201d she says. \u201cA gray or soft blue backdrop is ideal \u2014 it\u2019s non-distracting, highlights your features, and works well on camera. Ensure it\u2019s free of wrinkles or creases for a polished look.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A more permanent option for your backdrop is to paint a wall in your studio. There are several colors you can pick from but there are also some to stay away from.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>It\u2019s best to have a wall that is not white or black,\u201d says <\/span>Authentic You<\/span><\/a>, an acting studio in LA with a membership program for actors to stay on track. \u201cWhite washes you out, and black can blend in with your hair, clothes, etc., and makes everything feel dark. Grey or blue are great colors to use, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Although some actors get crafty with a stack of books balanced precariously on a chair, a quality tripod is essential for your new self-tape studio. \u201cYour camera or phone needs a steady base,\u201d says <\/span>Rita Litton<\/span><\/a>, a film and theatre acting coach with classes online and in person in New York City. \u201cMany ring lights can be purchased with an adjustable stand that\u2019s able to mount your phone or recording device. Alternatively buy a digital camera and expandable tripod, with a clip adapter that can support your cell phone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Walid Chaya<\/span><\/a>, an acting coach, actor, director-write, and publicity coach based in Los Angeles, has a specific suggestion, \u201c<\/span>Use a tripod that adjusts to your height for eye-level recording, like the Victiv Tripod 74\u201d which you can get for $30 on Amazon,\u201d says Walid.<\/span><\/p>\n For a good self-tape studio, you need to know that you can be seen and heard without any trouble. <\/span>\u201c<\/b>Most built-in smartphone mics work well if your recording space doesn\u2019t have strong echoes, so this is not always necessary,\u201d says Walid Chaya. \u201cOtherwise, a plug-in lav mic is a great option, like the PQRQP 3-in-1 Wireless Lavalier Mic $24 on Amazon. Your off-camera reader doesn\u2019t need a mic; their voice should stay slightly distant to focus on yours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For <\/span>Coach with Eden<\/span><\/a>, an audition coach in NYC and online, a good quality lav mic is non-negotiable. \u201cSomething that I consider to be<\/span> essential<\/span><\/i> is using a lav mic that plugs right into your phone. It requires no setup and makes all the difference, as it not only allows you to keep your speaking voice low and conversational, it ensures that your reader isn\u2019t louder than you are, which is distracting,\u201d says Eden. \u201cThe one I use myself and recommend to all of my students and private clients is the Boya BY-M1 on Amazon, with which you\u2019ll likely need a headphone jack adapter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For another microphone option, listen to Andrew Wood of <\/span>Andrew Wood Acting Studio<\/span><\/a>, an acting studio in Los Angeles that pulls techniques from the Yale School of Drama.\u00a0 \u201cYou will want a microphone to record quality sound in your setup,\u201d says Andrew. \u201cI recommend the PoP Voice Lavalier Lapel Microphone. It attaches to your shirt. At $9.99 on Amazon, it\u2019s a great deal on an excellent product.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re dedicating a full room to your self-tape studio or not, it can be helpful to set up the space for better sound insolation and less echo. \u201cEgg crate or foam hidden behind your backdrop sheet or pop-up will muffle noise from neighboring shared walls,\u201d says Laura Lasky of <\/span>Quit Acting<\/span><\/a>, an acting studio with private lessons, audition coaching, and hypnosis sessions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you can\u2019t leave this up permanently, glue egg crate or foam to a piece of cardboard or a piece of wood that can go on and off the wall as needed. Simply make sure you are equal or louder than your reader. They can talk softer or you can simply turn down the volume on their screen if working online.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The best lighting for your audition tapes is natural light, but that can be hard to come by. \u201cNatural light tends to be best, so if you have a room with a window that faces a wall directly, setting yourself up against that wall with the window in front of you will be lovely \u2013 just make sure to avoid direct sunlight hitting you in the face!\u201d says Coach with Eden. \u201cIf you don\u2019t happen to have that or if you are taping after sundown, you can opt for either a ring light \u2013 I like the 18\u201d light from Neewer \u2013\u00a0 or a set of softbox lights.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ring lights can be polarizing in the self-tape community. \u201c<\/span>We are not fans of the ever-popular ring-light, as they create weird shadows and even weirder zombie-like reflections in your eyes,\u201d says Anne Acker of <\/span>The Green Room Studio<\/span><\/a>, an acting studio offering online classes and in-person classes out of LA and Chicago. \u201c<\/span>For lighting, you want a soft source, which means a bigger light. A large window with indirect sunlight is ideal, but you can get great results by using a couple of softboxes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For the best of both worlds, you can combine natural light with artificial light. <\/span>\u201cFocus on using soft, natural light from a large window, that is even, illuminates your face without harsh shadows, and <\/span>is supplemented by <\/span>a ring light or three-point softbox setup; especially on very sunny days or when taping in the evening,\u201d says <\/span>First Take<\/span><\/a>, an acting school located in the Bay Area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For a little more polish on your tapes, consider using three-point lighting. \u201cA three-point lighting kit adds depth and polish to your tape,\u201d says Jamie Carroll Acting Coach. \u201cThere\u2019s the key light which is your main light source, the fill light which softens shadows, and the backlight which separates you from the background for a pro look. You can find affordable kits online, and plenty of tutorials to walk you through the setup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Building](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Photo1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n1. Know what makes a bad setup<\/span><\/h2>\n
2. Find your space<\/span><\/h2>\n
3. Consider a dual-purpose setup<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Photo2-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Pick out your backdrop<\/span><\/h2>\n
5. Grab a tripod<\/span><\/h2>\n
6. Buy a microphone<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Photo3-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Reduce echo in your recordings<\/span><\/h2>\n
8. Get your lighting on point<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Three-point](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Photo4-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Utilize three-point lighting<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Working](\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Photo5-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n